Improvement in playing-cards



' A. DUUGHERTY.

. Playing-Cards. No. 168,626, Paten.ted0c t.H,I875.

arranged for use in playing.

' nance of card-players to any material change UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFIoR;

ANDREW DOUGHERTY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLAYING-CARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,626, dated October 11, 1875 application filed October 6, 1675.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW DOUGHERTY, of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Playing- Oards, of which the tollowingkis the specifi cation:

My invention consists of a playing-card upon the face of which, in addition to the ordinary spots or figures, and at the upper lefthand corners, or at both corners in case of adouble card, is a miniature representation of the card itself, for the purpose described hereafter.

On reference to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a face view of one of my improved playing-cards, and Fig. 2 a hand of cards Ordinary playing-cards, which have not materially changed in character within alcentury, have certain defects, which all attempts to obviate have failed to remedy, owing to the repugfrom the customary forms. One of the objections to the ordinary cards is the arrangement of spots and figures, which renders it necessary in holding a hand of cards to spread the same so as to expose the greater portion of the face of each card. This exposure, while it facilitates the inspection by the holder, also enables his opponent at a glance to detect the character of the band, should he obtain sight of the same.

My improvement is designed to obviate this defect, and consists of a card having the usual spots or figure on the face, and, 'in addition, at the upper left-hand corneryor at both corners if the card be a double card, a miniature represention, a, of the face of the larger card, as shown in the drawing.

When these cards are held in the hand they may be made to overlap and cover each other to such an extent as to expose only the mi niature representation a, which, while visible to the holder, cannot be distinguished by his opponent or any one not holding the cards. When, however, a card is thrown upon the table, all the players may detect the character, as usual, by the larger or ordinary figure on the face, whichcannot be done where a miniature representation or symbol only is on the card. In most instances double-headed cards, such, as shown at A in Fig.2, are used, and when my improvement is applied to cards of this class each contains upon its face three representations, namely, the usual full-sized figure and the two miniature figures a a.

I claim l. A playing-card the face of which consists of the usual figure or spots, together with a miniature representation of the card itself, arranged at the ripper left-hand corner, as specified.

2. A triplicate playing-card the face of which consists of the usual figure or spots and two miniature representations of the said figure or spots, arranged at diagonally opposite corners, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW DOUGHERTY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. FOSTER, WILLIAM HENRY DOUGHER-TY. 

